News of: Wednesday, 5th of September, 2012

Front Page

Finance Minister AMA Muhith's comment yesterday on the Sonali Bank loan scam that the Tk 4,000 crore swindled was a petty amount has surprised many, including a former minister, an economist and a banker.

The Rapid Action Battalion claims to have arrested six people on Sunday on charges of plotting to kill three doctors, but the families of four of the arrestees allege they were kidnapped by the law enforcers on August 13.

Backing out from its earlier commitment to install young leadership in the JCD, the BNP high command yesterday named the top five leaders of the new central committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD).

War crimes accused Abdul Alim handed over 28 Bangalees to the Pakistani army to have them killed and they were shot at places in Joypurhat in 1971, said a witness before International Crimes Tribunal-2.

In a heated discussion in parliament, a number of ruling alliance lawmakers yesterday accused two High Court judges of violating the constitution and demanded that they be removed for delivering a controversial judgment on the Speaker's June 18 ruling.

One hundred Bangladeshi workers are to lose their jobs as the United Arab Emirates authorities have rejected their new employer's plea to transfer their visas and let them work on their existing visas.

Dream Chaser is being built by the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) in the US mid-western state of Colorado. It is one of three concepts backed by Nasa to replace the retired Space Shuttle and is designed to carry crew and cargo to and from orbit.

Editorial

In a way are not surprised but certainly saddened that the opposition appears to be persisting in the belief that its joining the parliament would not bring itself or the nation any benefit. The chief whip of the opposition Joynal Abedin Faruk reportedly even went to the extent of suggesting that going to parliament would be a waste of time. Although the party's considered position is still awaited, the chief whip's initial remark is somewhat concerning.

At a time when European and US markets are shrinking for Bangladeshi apparel exports, the news that one of the biggest names in Swedish retail industry H&M has decided to double its business to US$3 billion in Bangladesh over the next five years is welcome news indeed. The move by the global giant that sources its materials from some 250 factories in Bangladesh goes to show the growing confidence of foreign buyers in the future trajectory of the country as a global player in readymade garments (RMG) industry. The fact that the RMG sector has responded to calls for taking initiatives to improve the wellbeing of its workers by means of opening up health and recreational facilities is helping to improve its image as a responsible sector to foreign buyers.

Sports

As promised the BCB is going to model the country's lone first-class competition -- the National Cricket League (NCL) -- on a franchise-based system. The fourteenth version of the tournament will start from October 14 at four different venues across the country, said BCB president AHM Mustafa Kamal after the board's emergency meeting yesterday.

Forwards in the national booters' training camp are seemingly under pressure to ensure their places in the national squad after coach Shaiful Bari Titu hinted that he might chose a single striker in the two exhibition matches against Nepal.

Siddikur Rahman will be looking to bounce back from a disastrous Omega Masters performance when he takes the field for the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters which starts today. The 27-year old golfer, who had enjoyed an otherwise consistent season, missed his first cut of the season in Switzerland last week as he bowed out midway through with a 4-over par score.

After a 4-0 victory over Uganda in the sixth round, Bangladesh women's chess team went down to a 0.5-2.5 defeat against Argentina in the seventh round of the World Chess Olympiad in Istnbul on Tuesday. Nazrana Khan Eva and Mahmuda Haque Chwodhury lost their respective boards while WIM Rani Hamid managed to draw her board. The other match between Sharmin Shirin Sultana and her opponent was in progress when this report was filed.

While arbitrator Harun-or-Rashed was informing participants about the different rules of the Azimuddin Bhuiyan Trust 32nd National Sub-Junior Championship, Apan Pal, a nursery student of a city school, hardly heard the announcement as he was more concerned with trying to see his board on a table which was equal to him in terms of height.

I was disappointed to read Cristiano Ronaldo's attention-grabbing comments about being unhappy at Real Madrid this week, but for me the whole saga demonstrates why he is inferior to Lionel Messi both as a player and as a person.

BSRM Steel Mills has finalised a syndicated loan of $46.5 million and Tk 5,000 million from IDLC Finance and The City Bank jointly to set up a 8.6-lakh-tonne-a-year steel melting and billet casting plant in Mirsarai, Chittagong, the financiers said in a statement yesterday.

Industries Minister Dilip Barua yesterday said the government will implement the garment industrial park project outside Dhaka at the quickest possible time to properly harness the huge prospects of RMG export.

APPLE may bury the hatchet with Google - just not quite yet. It's no shock their chiefs, Tim Cook and Larry Page, are talking. The iPhone maker's sweeping US patent win over Samsung is a blow to the search giant, too. But the rivals' clashing business models make peace difficult.

Bangladesh Islami Oikya Jote Chairman Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury yesterday said many members of Islami Chhatra Sangha, former student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, joined Al-Badr and Razakar during the Liberation War of 1971.

Human trafficking can be prevented by raising awareness through electronic and print media and other means of communication and campaigns, speakers said at a campaign launching programme in the capital yesterday.

Although Bangladesh has significant achievements in the health sector, the country still faces challenges to reduce the high cost of health services that deprives the poor of healthcare, said a study yesterday.

Accusing the government of destabilising the country's higher educational institutions through politicisation, BNP yesterday urged the government to remove Vice Chancellor of Buet to bring an end to the ongoing stalemate at the institution.

The Supreme Court yesterday stayed for four weeks a High Court order that had permitted Qazi Khaje Alam, chief executive of a faction of Proshika led by Qazi Faruque Ahmed, to operate all bank accounts of the organisation.

National

Fourteen years after starting, construction of Khoksha Ghat bridge over Buri Teesta River on Domar-Dimla road in the district has remained half done as political rivalry, lack of fund and obstructions by locals for getting unpaid money for requisitioned land stood in the way.

Seventy men of the ruling Awami League (AL) have been sued for their alleged involvement in looting and illegally occupying a house owned by a retired army man in Dashmina upazila under Patuakhali district.

A daylong battalion commander level flag meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) was held at Changrabandha BSF camp, opposite to Burimari BGB camp in Patgram upazila on Monday over killing of a cattle trader.

An under-trial prisoner died at Patuakhali hospital early yesterday. The dead, Abul Kashem, 60, of Bibirhowla village in Galachipa upazila, was an accused in a robbery case. Jailor Shamsul Alom said Kashem fell sick following a chest pain at about 3:15am. He was rushed to the hospital where the doctors declared him dead, said the jailor.

A housewife was killed by lightning at Cholbola village in Kaliganj upazila on Monday evening. The victim was identified as Fatema Begum, 35, wife of Abdul Mannan of the village. Family sources said Fatema was stuck by lighting and died on the spot when she was cooking in the kitchen.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested three people from different areas of the district town on Monday night on charge of violating a female university student. Ashrafuzzaman, 25, Rubel Mia, 24, and Emdad Hossain, 42, were arrested from Kalikapara and Adarshapara of the town. Hamidul Haque, commander of Rab-6, said the victim went to her teacher's house at Adarshapara on Saturday noon. At one stage, the trio allegedly led by one Younus stormed into the house and beat up the teacher mercilessly. Later, Younus raped the girl. At this, the arrestees recoded the scene on their mobile phones. They also looted Tk 12,000 and gold ornaments from the residence, said Hamidul.

Criminals killed the driver of a battery-run auto-rickshaw and snatched the vehicle from him in Kaunia upazila on Sunday night. The victim, Shafiqul Islam, 28, was son of Monsur Ali of Ramchandrapur village. Police and family sources said the gang hired the rickshaw, going to the village, a border area of Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, in the evening. They strangled him and took away the vehicle. Locals found his body in a jungle and informed the police at night. The law enforcers recovered the body and sent it to the hospital morgue for autopsy, said, Jamir Uddin, officer in-charge of Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station.

Two minor girls drowned in a pond in Tapodhan area of the city on Sunday evening. The deceased were identified as Tilimoni Akhter, 9, daughter of Chabur Uddin of Budail Nayabazar area and Tara Banu, 8, daughter of Atiar Rahman of the city. Family sources said the girls went to the pond near their homes taking a dip and remained missing. Later, family members recovered the bodies from the spot, said Altaf Hossain, officer in-charge of Kotwali Police Station.

Police arrested a man along with three bombs and one bullet at Kutuberhat village in Senbagh upazila on Monday. The arrestee is Md Shahed, 35, son of Nurul Haque of Bishnapur village. On secret information, police raided Shahed's drugstore and recovered the bombs and ammunition from there, said Sajedur Rahman, officer in-charge of Senbagh Police Station.

A devastating fire gutted machineries and raw materials of Sonali Cotton Mill at a bazar in Keshabpur upazila early yesterday. Police and locals said the fire originated from an electric short circuit at about 5:00am and gutted cotton, thread and machineries of the mill. On information, firefighters from Manirampur fire service rushed in and put out the blaze after two hours of frantic efforts. The authorities claimed the loss caused by the fire could go up to Tk 13 lakh.

Letters

Bangladesh has made very significant progress in reducing maternal deaths. The rate has declined to 40% within 9 years which is a great achievement. But still more than 7000 mothers die each year due to pregnancy-related complications. Study shows that 90% of such deaths can be prevented by making their health and wellbeing a priority. Is it not a big tragedy? We have only three years left to achieve MDG-5. In order to achieve the target, we have to reduce maternal mortality rate by 25 percent by 2015. A study found that women's low status in society, poor quality of maternity care services, lack of trained providers, low uptake of services by women, and unfriendly hospitals -- all contribute to the high rate of maternal deaths. The situation is also compounded by strong cultural and traditional beliefs that deter women from delivering at healthcare clinics or with medically trained attendants. Under these circumstances, if we want to achieve the MDG-5 by the stipulated time, the government, national and international organisations including UN organisations should come forward and work hard together and invest in safe motherhood programmes to drastically reduce the rate of maternal deaths.

I stay at Gulshan 1. Gulshan has become an area of big apartments. It is almost impossible to stay at home day or night because of the construction noise. The construction companies are very powerful, politically and financially. We went to the police many times to complain about the disturbances they create all day long but it did not work. Police allegedly takes bribe from the construction companies and so the situation remains the same.

The heads of state and government of 120 countries gathered in the Tehran NAM Summit meeting. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed to be out of his mind when he commented that the meeting was a 'stain on humanity'. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reiterated that Iran is not making any nuclear weapons. What is more, they have termed this weapon as un-Islamic. They are only developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, to which every country has inalienable right. Still the imperialists are drumming up their false propaganda that Iran's possession of nuclear weapon is very dangerous for the world peace. The saner people of the world are now aware of the fact that the imperialists are the real enemy of peace. It is they who invaded Iraq and destroyed the excellent infrastructure of the country on the false premise that Saddan Hossain possessed WMD.

I draw your attention to the news item in your daily (Sept 1), "Quader slaps rail staff” which any law-abiding, self-respecting and sensitive person anywhere in the world would find disturbing, offensive and in violation of human rights and human dignity. Restoring order and discipline in the communications ministry (or for that matter, in any ministry or government department) under the vigilance of the minister concerned is laudable, but verbal or physical abuse of any employee by any minister or high official is simply a criminal offence. In any country with some semblance of the rule of law (including Sri Lanka and India), the minister would have been arrested for resorting to physical violence and most definitely he would have lost his job, and the victim would have got due compensation.

Prof Yunus is one of the most famous and honoured personalities in the present day world. He is the founder-philosopher of Grameen Bank which has shown to the world the unique way of eradicating poverty through microcredit. Grameen is now a universally accepted model and Grameen-type microcredit or microfinance programmes is being launched and conducted in most of the countries of the world today.

Recently I came across a post on facebook, in which the importance of hijab and the consequences of not wearing hijab have been pointed out. In the picture, women wearing veils were compared to a covered piece of chocolate and women not wearing veils were compared to an uncovered piece of chocolate which gets dirty and attracts flies. To my horror, I noticed that a number of well-educated people appreciated it. Needless to say, whoever posted it, tried to glorify the veiled women and demean the non-veiled women. Nowadays Facebook is a very powerful social networking site and it can be used to influence millions of its users on various issues. So I earnestly request all sensible users to discourage this sort of nonsensical post.

The death of Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, is really a great loss to humanity as he is known to be the most renowned space traveller in the world. He died at the age of 82. On July 20, 1969, he became the first person to reach the moon when he was 38. It is still known as a major achievement in history. He will be ever remembered for this great achievement.

International

China yesterday warned the United States not to get involved in South China Sea territorial disputes as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Beijing pledging to pass on a strong message on the need to calm regional tension.

India and China announced yesterday they would resume joint military exercises after a four-year gap, a move designed to build trust in the often prickly relationship between the two nuclear-powered neighbours.

A suicide bomber targeted an Afghan government official at a funeral yesterday, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens more near the Pakistan border in one of the deadliest attacks of the year.

The leader of Colombia's leftist Farc rebels confirmed on Monday that they were ready to take part in peace talks aimed at ending Latin America's longest-running armed conflict, now nearly 50 years old.

Arts & Entertainment

Tanvin Sweety's journey in the media began with ramp modelling opportunities, which eventually paved the way for a broader modelling career. Her continuing success in the field led her to the realm of acting, and the talented Sweety seized every opportunity to cement her place on the TV screen.

Abdul Alim (1931-1974) a brilliant folk singer possessed a melodious and gifted voice, which is yet to be surpassed by any other folk singer of our country. His presentation was simply magical. His songs epitomised the very essence of folk culture and mesmerised listeners across the country. Indeed, he played an important role in popularising this form of music. With such a life of achievement it is unfortunate that his death anniversary is observed unceremoniously and he is now almost a forgotten chapter.

Athena Gallery of Fine Arts in North Badda, Dhaka will hold a month-long group drawing exhibition, featuring the works of noted and accomplished artists in Bangladesh. About 24 artists are taking part at the exposition. The exhibition will open on September 15, and will continue till October 15.

The Institute of Art and Culture (IAC) and Bangladesh High Commission in Sri Lanka recently jointly organised a group art exhibition titled “Sonargaon to Ranmuthu Duwa” at the J.D.A. Perera Gallery in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The show was inaugurated by the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mahbubuzzaman, on August 25. An art workshop and the exhibition were led and presided over by Ishrat Akhond, director and founding trustee of IAC.

A weeklong boat race kicked off in Pabna on September 3. The race was inaugurated at the Char Bolorampur village, of Pabna Sadar upazila. Boatmen from different areas of the district participated in the traditional race that was held in the mighty river Padma.

Featuring agonies of two Biranganas (women who survived abuse during the Liberation War), a new play premiered on Dhaka stage. National Theatre Repertory brings the play, “Bideha”, directed by Lucky Enam. The play premiered at the National Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, on September 3.

OP-ED

Sixty four years after Mohammad Ali Jinnah died a lonely man, at a point between his departure from Ziarat and arrival in Karachi on September 11, 1948, there is yet the old argument that had he lived, Pakistan would be a truly democratic, perhaps even secular country. Unfortunately, it is an argument which misses some vital elements of Jinnah's life and career. Observe.

Last month, competing interests prevented agreement on a much-needed treaty that would have reduced the appalling human cost of the poorly regulated international arms trade. Meanwhile, nuclear disarmament efforts remain stalled, despite strong and growing global popular sentiment in support of this cause.

The horrifying reports of killing, abduction and extortion that fill the pages of the dailies with alarming frequency only lead one to believe that if anything the country has fallen in the grip of barbaric forces. Newspaper reports show that in just 6 days -- between August 24 and August 29 -- at least 30 people were killed in different places of the country. Not only the capital city but even the small towns seem to be caught in a frightening coil of fear and trauma.

After months of speculation and rumours, Myanmar's President Thein Sein has created a "super" cabinet in order to deflect attention from his besieged administration, which is riven with divisions and inertia. Recently, the president began to roll out his planned massive shake-up in government -- involving extensive cabinet changes and an overhaul of the civil service. This is aimed at reforming and modernising the country's antiquated government machinery and more importantly, boosting economic development.